Israel moves to formally recognize Armenian WWI deaths as a genocide

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s Cabinet unanimously approved a proposal on Sunday to recognize the violence against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as a genocide.

This decision, which still requires parliamentary approval, signifies the deteriorating relationship between Israel and Turkey. Turkey has vehemently opposed the official acknowledgment of the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 as a genocide, despite Armenian efforts for recognition.

Historians estimate that approximately 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks during World War I, a tragic event widely recognized as the first genocide of the 20th century by scholars. Turkey, however, denies the genocide label, claiming the deaths were a result of civil war and unrest with an inflated toll.

Israel had previously avoided addressing this issue to avoid upsetting Turkey, but the strained relations over the past years, especially due to conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, prompted this decision.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who proposed the decision, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, stating that it is a moral and historical obligation. Israel has now joined 32 other countries, including the United States, Syria, and Lebanon, in recognizing the genocide.

Turkey condemned Israel’s move as politically motivated, accusing Israel of using it to divert attention from its actions against Palestinians. The Turkish Foreign Ministry criticized the decision, labeling it as an attempt to cover up Israel’s alleged crimes against Palestinians and dismissing it as a distortion of legal and historical facts.

The relationship between Israel and Turkey, once strong allies, has soured over the years, particularly with the leadership of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Israel has faced accusations of genocide from various entities, including the United Nations and Turkey, in relation to its actions in Gaza, which Israel vehemently denies.

In response to the ongoing conflicts, Israel launched a war following an attack by Hamas in 2023, leading to significant casualties in Gaza. Israel maintains that it does not target civilians and accuses Hamas of using them as shields.

Last week, a UN-commissioned report accused Israel of intentionally targeting children in Gaza and reiterated claims of genocide. Israel dismissed the report as baseless.